GUWAHATI: For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent will be marching down the Kartavya Path in the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26, as announced by the Union Ministry of Defense yesterday on January 23.
The three contingents will be led by Flight Lieutenant Srishti Varma from the Indian Air Force (IAF), Captain Sharanya Rao from the Indian Army and Sub Lieutenant Anshu Yadav from the Indian Navy, who each hailed the decision and expressed their pride on being a part of the historic moment.
Speaking on the decision, Flight Lieutenant Varma reportedly said, “This time we are marching with the all-women tri-service contingent on the Kartavya Path and it is going to be a very historic moment for all of us.”
This is also the first time that an Armed Forces Medical Services contingent, led by Major Srishti Khullar, will be taking part in the Republic Day parade.
Major General Sumit Mehta stated on the official account of the Principal Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, "The 26 January parade, which is being presented on the Kartavya Path, is women-centric so there will be a very large participation of women on this parade from the marching contingents to the contingent commanders to women on camelbacks to the women on mechanized platforms which will roll down the Kartavya Path, and also the motorcycle display.”
The Major General also announced that a French Contingent consisting of 90 soldiers from France will be taking part in the parade.
The parade will start at 10:30 AM on the morning of January 26 and the President of France Emmanuel Macron has been invited as the Chief Guest in 75th Republic Day celebrations of India.